All stretching is a waste of time.

LOLOLOLOLOL wrote:

The time you stretch a rubber band aiming at a target before you shoot it out does little to destroy the elasticity of the band. But if you insist, you hold it long enough the rubber sure would lose some elasticity.

As I've already mentioned, the "elasticity" of a muscle is not a property of the material it's made of, but the nervous system controlling it. A muscle is completely slack until the nervous system adds tension and contracts it - the exact opposite of a rubber band.

Stretching is like a mountain climber yanking on a rope to get his partner to let out more. If he doesn't get more rope right away, chances are there's a problem with his partner. Then continuing to yank on the rope will achieve at best nothing, and at worst a damaged rope. While he wastes his time, his partner may be unconscious and dying.

I'm doing higher milleage now and not stretching, no injury this season

beer can wrote:

So range of motion plays no role in running? My speed would be the same with a 12" stride as it would with a 60" stride?

Stride length is a function of 1) the force you push off with and 2) the time your foot is on the ground applying that force (connected with cadence). Range of motion doesn't enter in the equation at all.

On the topic of form, aren't the mechanics experts saying the most common problem in form is over-striding, landing too far in front of your center of gravity and kicking back too far? Maybe because people are too flexible?

Gumby is the most flexible person on the face of the earth and I have NEVER seen him win a major marathon.

Hardloper wrote:

I bet a majority of present-day world-class athletes who are told by photographers to stretch for the camera, I'll give you that.

Oh come on, Hardloper... I have trained with world-class athletes and shared the warm-up area with them before big races and saw them do static stretches without anyone asking them to pose for the cameras.

True about the Ethiopians doing a lot of dynamic stretching.

Hardloper wrote:

beer can wrote:

So range of motion plays no role in running? My speed would be the same with a 12" stride as it would with a 60" stride?

Stride length is a function of 1) the force you push off with and 2) the time your foot is on the ground applying that force (connected with cadence). Range of motion doesn't enter in the equation at all.

Ok, listen all sprinter coaches out there. Range of motion means nothing in running. Hardloser has spoken.

Hardloser wrote:

Ok, listen all sprinter coaches out there. Range of motion means nothing in running. Hardloser has spoken.

Where did you get that idea?

Kennis Dimetto wrote:

Oh come on, Hardloper... I have trained with world-class athletes and shared the warm-up area with them before big races and saw them do static stretches without anyone asking them to pose for the cameras.

Wait, I thought static stretches were the ones that were bad to do before the race, only after, and only dynamic before? Or is it dynamic stretches after now? What is the proper way to stretch?

Hardloper wrote:

Wait, I thought static stretches were the ones that were bad to do before the race, only after, and only dynamic before? Or is it dynamic stretches after now? What is the proper way to stretch?

haha I am not going into that discussion.

I am just saying that they do the static stretching thing. I am not saying it's good or bad.

not true.. PNF stretching has been proven to increase flexibility. Do it before running and you will have greater hip mobility.. allows your hips to rotate more freely and put up faster times.

It seems obvious just by watching elites that they have much greater hip mobility then most club runners. Whether this is because of stretching, training, better form or genetics is another question.

good to hear wrote:

frogwoman wrote:

It rids me of IT issues, so I think it works.

Awesome. I have been having some computer problems myself. I keep calling our IT guy, but I've never thought to try stretching. Are there any particular stretches that you find especially helpful for IT issues?

Potd. sorry I'm late to the party